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It was great meeting you on Saturday, Roberta - I look forward to seeing all the photos. In the meantime, since my message to Ori got buried so quickly, I'll repeat what I said here: I cannot imagine a piano shopping trip in the tri-state area being complete without a visit to Ori's stunning new Allegro Pianos showroom with all those magnificent top-tier pianos. Congratulations, Ori, and all my best wishes!

I shall describe sections of the weekend with pics. How'd I become the official photograher? LOL! But I took about 130.

THE STORE

I remember visiting before it 'was'. If I recall what was there before was an old rundown service station but the Bukai's had a dream. And a dream pianostore - music school it has become. On the right are two floors of Allegro Pianos and the left is devoted to Longridge Music School and Recital Hall. They overlook a small pond complete with ducks, geese, herons, making for a wonderful view from all the large windows.

From the parking lot -

The reception area

There are 4 rows of pianos on the first floor - the views in pic two are overlooking the pond. Gotta love those windows!

Having been a musical director for many years and sitting in a teeny weeny studio teaching for hours at a time, I really was interested in the LMS. Several good size studios with a mix of grands and high end uprights. A large room for preschool and up classes, another large room for play, and the exceptional recital hall with 3 concert grands had me drooling.

Lessons are offered in piano, voice, guitar, classrooms and you will see photos of the musical director as she plays a duet with one of her students in a bit.

Ori doing final prep for the concerts in the recital hall.

You'll see more of this recital hall in other pics below.

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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything."

Elegantely offered hors d'heuvres displayed on fruit with flowers on each tray

Triian Laul on the Steingraeber 212. Fun to enjoy owners playing on 'other than their own pianos'! Several did this during the weekend. Pics usually taken before/aft the performance since a flash was used.

Udo, Eric and friend

Frank, JerryS88, and Andrew

Indrek playing Estonia composer on his Estonia piano

Not only beautiful, this is Miffi's daughter playing beautifully! She posed for this pic. More talented youngster played on Sun.

WOW! WOW! WOW! What a beautiful place. Ori,your place has it all. From exqusite pianos to beautiful views and a recital hall. It puts me in the piano buying mood again. It makes me want to hop on a plane and purchase another German piano! LOL! I am very envious that i was not able to attend. A great time must have been had by all.

lilylady,Thanks for being the "Official Photographer". You did a great job and you would make a great journalist as well. Great "play by play" report. KUDOS TO YOU !

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Proud owner of a fully restored Feurich concert grand built in 1912 with Phoenix System.Gotta love that German technology

Thanks, Lily, for all the pictures! The Bluthner Pianist is Netherlands-based Russian pianist Elena Bezprozvannykh.Congratulations to Ori, again for the successful event! We had a great time. I decided to move here my buried thread posted under Ori’s invite. Just for fun, I have my 8 yr old’s writing homework here…Why? Actually, her assignment due this week was to write about an exciting experience of her own. Meeting with all the celebrities at the two day event, she excitedly wrote a piece about it Sunday night. It talks about her playing on Sat. at the grand opening. Interestingly, she only saw three (not four) rows of pianos in the room. Limited kid’s vision:-)

“I was nervous and excited. Will the next person be me? (Yes, she was actually the first who was called up in the middle of busy eating ) I was called by a man who was the owner of this building that was called the “ALLEGRO PIANOS.” The man’s name was Ori.(Attention Ori!!!) Ori is a piano dealer. He’s a kind person who L-O-V-E-S pianos. He has a low, round voice. He has brown hair which is always combed PERFECTLY . He always wears a business suit.My hands sweating, I took my sweater off. My hands were shaking. In fact, my whole body was shaking. I was so nervous that I forgot to bow! I scrambled onto the bench, closed my eyes, and began to play. Suddenly, I almost hit a wrong note. But luckily I did not do it. A strike of relief went to my heart. I played until I finally reached the end. I ran into the arms of my mom as the applause rang like an alarm. I squeezed my eyes shut. When they opened, I realized how beautiful the room was.The room contained 3 rows of beautiful grand pianos. One part of the room was low, but the other side was about 2 times taller. It was HUGE with dim lights.Suddenly I looked at the piano I was playing on and realized how nice it was. It was an August Forster! It had a beautiful, round and perfect sound. The piano was black, shinny and smooth. I have a 7 ft August Forster at home and both of them made me feel like I was playing the piano of my dream. I really loved the concert and it made me feel released for finally finishing this piece called Variations on a Paganini Theme by Berkovich. All summer I had to play it in concerts, a competition, and other performances. Though I love this piece, I am still glad I finished it. I feel proud of not giving up it earlier because it was so ME!

I think I missed some including PW Frank, but I did enjoy all those I heard.

Again Elena played two Liszt pieces on the concert Bluthner. Wonderful interpretations. Inspired me to go back to the famous Elegy with more passion. I haven't started listening to my zoom recordings but it they are good, I'll try to share. Both days she was amazing. Her CD's did not get there in time for her to sign them for us, but I have been assured that we will get a link to her website where I think we can purchase some...and wasn't there some talk about downloading pieces from itunes?

Probably out of order but who cares? ;-)

Student, Seth, and teacher, Svitlana (head of the educational dept at Longridge) on the Bose Imperial and Bluthner.

Ori then asked Indrek to perform on the Bose Imperial. I know that Indrek is concert artist, but both he and the Imperial blew us away! He thought for a while, while adjusting the bench. It was a spur of the moment performance. He choose Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. The perfect piece for the Imperial and for a piano party. I don't think I have ever seen him without a smile on his face, and yes, all the while he plays, he also smiles!

Throughout his playing, it was like he was presenting the themes as inspirational characters coming out of a story. Bravo to Indrek and the Bose!

Ajusting the bench

Students played so well that it was a little intimidating to follow them. But what inspiration.

Dad records

Keeping his hands warm

Playing

Proud Mom

And another piano hunt is ongoing. Currently considering the Steingraeber he performed on.

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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything."

Ori
1000 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 1704
Loc: Stamford CT, New York City .

All,

Thank you so much for coming.It was indeed a wonderful weekend.

So many guests were planning to attend, that we had to divide the party to two separate nights, lest the showroom be overrun by hundreds of piano lovers (and who knew there were so many of us left!).

Both events were wonderful, yet very different in character from one another…not unlike the different sounds of wonderful pianos.

It was overwhelming, in a wonderful way, to see customers and PW members coming not just from CT and NY, but also from Boston, New Hampshire, NJ, PA, MD and as far as California...and piano industry people making their way from Europe, Florida and as far away as Stony Point , NY and Wilton, CT… (private joke! )

My only regret was that I could not spend more time with each and every one of you…but you’re always welcome to come back.

FatherToPianist – it was great meeting with you, finally.

CC2/Dan, - it’s always great seeing you…and I’m sorry we had so little time to converse. I feel I almost missed you.

LJC – guess what…the Steingraeber concert grand just landed and cleared customs today! I know how much you wanted to lay your hands on one, so you can go ahead and plan another trip!

Jerry88 – Great to have you on Sat, missed you on Sun.Miffy – Chelsea is so wonderfully talented…we’ll see how she progresses for NEXT YEAR’S party!

James Maxwell…you have one skilled player at home! It looks like he wanted to spend some more time with the ‘toys’ in our showroom…so feel free to bring him back and warm up the keys.

Doogs/Linda – I don’t know how you manage to work out such a tan, and look so wonderfully relaxed!Wish I could have had some R & R myself. I don’t know what you’re having, but I need a bit of this myself.

Jeff BC – I saw you take some videos, so hopefully we’ll get to see these. I was so happy to see you and Elana, she is absolutely wonderful! Something tells me that I’ll be seeing you again rather soon, and I more than look forward to it, lobster or not!

Galahad – seeing you is always a pleasure. I can definitely understand the priority of piano first wife second (hopefully Rebecca is not reading this), but perhaps we can get the piano room sealed and you can keep both AND play for as long as you wish!

Rick Shapiro – Don’t dream too much about the Steingraeber! You may wake up one day to find out that you traded your piano for one…

Frank, Mr. piano world – it always fun seeing you and Kathy! I guess that all the parties made you one polished public speaker!!! I was duly impressed by the ease and grace you conducted the PW (AA) meeting…

Oh and did I forget someone…

Lilylady/Roberta…what can I say? It is YOU who make the paaaty come alive!!! YOU who wanna make me sing!!! YOU whom no one can foget…and YOU, moe than anyone else, bwing people together…

Roberta, Roberta, Roberta – Thank YOU for all the wonderful pictures, the warmth and the joy you spread around wherever you go, and throughout our community of Piano World members.All, please note…no party is complete without Roberta on board!

For all those I did not mention, thanks for coming and sharing our joy of pianos…and for those who wanted to attend and couldn’t make it, I’m sure there will be a next time…

And also, I would like to give special thanks to one non PW member who helped and arranged much more than just this party, but pretty much my life…my wife, Rebecca! Thanks for everything , Boss! (so can I have a day off now?).

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Ori Bukai - Owner/Founder of Allegro Pianos - New York City and Stamford CT showrooms.

Ori,Nice response! You have such class,not only meaning your establishment and pianos,but in your personality and the way in which you conduct yourself.Best wishes for you, your family and your new venture.

Terry

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Proud owner of a fully restored Feurich concert grand built in 1912 with Phoenix System.Gotta love that German technology